Tablet packing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a tablet packing apparatus which is possible to feed specially administrative tablets separately from general tablets. Specially administrative tablets are contained in a feeder vessel. A tablet reserving member  200  is disposed below the feeder vessel  36.  A shutter  203  which is movable to open and close the lower opening of the tablet reserving member  200  is provided. When setting the tablet vessel beneath the tablet reserving member  200  and moving the shutter  203  to open the lower opening of the tablet reserving member  200,  the specially administrative tablets are fed into the tablet vessel without passing through the common passage.

[0001] The present invention relates to a tablet packing apparatus andmore particularly to a tablet packing apparatus which is suited to feedspecially administrative tablets (for example, pyrine medicine) to atablet vessel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a tablet packing apparatusin which tablets stored in a tablet feed section are fed through acommon passage and contained into a tablet vessel fed from a tabletvessel feed section.

[0003] However, in the tablet packing apparatus, even speciallyadministrative tablets such as pyrine medicines and histamine tabletswhich cause allergy or so to some patients are conveyed through thecommon passage. Thus, dust of the specially administrative tabletsremain on the common passage, allowing the dust to adhere to the surfaceof other general tablets conveying through the common passage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tabletpacking apparatus which is possible to feed specially administrativetablets separately from general tablets.

[0005] The present invention provides, as a solution to theabove-described problems with the prior art, a tablet packing apparatusin which tablets fed from a plurality of feeder vessels in a tablet feedsection through a common passage are contained into a tablet vessel fedfrom a tablet vessel feed section, the apparatus comprising:

[0006] a tablet reserving member disposed below the feeder vessel whichstores specially administrative tablets, the tablet reserving memberhaving a lower opening, the tablet reserving member receiving thespecially administrative tablets fed from the feeder vessel; and

[0007] a shutter which is movable to open and close the lower opening ofthe tablet reserving member, whereby when setting the tablet vesselbeneath the tablet reserving member and moving the shutter to open thelower opening of the tablet reserving member, the speciallyadministrative tablets are fed into the tablet vessel without passingthrough the common passage.

[0008] According to the present invention, the specially administrativetablets such as pyrine medicines and histamine tablets are containedinto the tablet reserving member and then fed into the tablet vesselwithout passing through the common passage. Thus, dust generated duringconveyance of the specially administrative tablets do not adhere to theother general tablet which pass through the common passage.

[0009] It is preferable that the tablet reserving member is separatedfrom the feeder vessel and connected to the feeder vessel by means of atube. Thus, it is possible to select a place where the speciallyadministrative tablets are fed from the tablet reserving member. It isalso possible to dispose the tablet reserving member at a desired place,resulting in effective dispensing work of the specially administrativetablets.

[0010] It is preferable that the tablet reserving member includes abiasing member for biasing the shutter so as to close the lower openingof the tablet reserving member and the shutter is formed with a cutoutportion with which the tablet vessel engages, whereby when engaging thetablet vessel with the cutout portion to push the shutter, the shutteropen the lower opening of the tablet reserving member. Thus, it ispossible to easily position the tablet vessel beneath the tabletreserving member and smoothly open the shutter, enhancing workability.

[0011] It is preferable that the tablet reserving member includes aindicator for indicating that the specially administrative tablets arefed into the tablet reserving member, preventing miss operation.

[0012] It is also preferable that the tablet reserving member includes asensor for detecting opening or closing of the lower opening of thetablet reserving member by the shutter, whereby the speciallyadministrative tablets can be fed from the tablet vessel only when thesensor detects closing of the lower opening of the tablet reservingmember. Thus, it is possible to prevent miss operation and feed desirednumber of tablets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Other objects and features of the present invention will becomeclear from the following detail description with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective overall view illustrating a tablet packingapparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0015]FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a container chamber instorage shelves in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 2B is a fragmentary perspective view in FIG. 2A;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an arm member in FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a tablet container sectionin FIG. 1;

[0019]FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view illustrating a motor baseand a feeder vessel in FIG. 4;

[0020]FIG. 5B is a bottom view illustrating the feeder vessel in FIG.5A;

[0021]FIG. 6A is a sectional view illustrating the motor base and thefeeder vessel in FIG. 4;

[0022]FIG. 6B is a fragmentary view illustrating a dividing fin in FIG.6A;

[0023]FIG. 7A is a front view illustrating a rotor provided in a feedervessel in FIG. 4;

[0024]FIG. 7B is a bottom view illustrating the rotor in FIG. 7A;

[0025]FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a stock container inFIG. 1;

[0026]FIG. 9 is a sectional view of FIG. 8;

[0027]FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a vessel taking outportion in FIG. 8;

[0028]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating thevicinity of a tablet packing section in FIG. 1;

[0029]FIG. 12 is a plane view illustrating a vessel support portion anda label fitting apparatus in FIG. 11;

[0030]FIG. 13 is a partly enlarged perspective view of FIG. 12;

[0031]FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating a vessel support portion anda filling hopper in FIG. 11;

[0032]FIGS. 15A and 15B are front views illustrating the operation of atablet weighing section in FIG. 11;

[0033]FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C are front views illustrating the operationof the tablet weighing section in FIG. 11;

[0034]FIG. 17 is a block diagram on the tablet packing apparatus inaccordance with the invention;

[0035]FIG. 18 is a main flow chart illustrating the tablet packingcontrol;

[0036]FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating an empty vessel feedingprocess in FIG. 18;

[0037]FIG. 20 a flow chart illustrating a tablet feeding process in FIG.18;

[0038]FIG. 21 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 20;

[0039]FIG. 22 is a flow chart illustrating a vessel delivering processin FIG. 18;

[0040]FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating a recovery process;

[0041]FIG. 24 is a flow chart illustrating the tablet recovering processin FIG. 23;

[0042]FIGS. 25A and 25B are views illustrating main menu displayed on atouch panel;

[0043]FIGS. 26A and 26B are front views illustrating contents displayedon the touch panel in the case of power-off;

[0044]FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating a tablet feed sectionprovided with a particular dispensing apparatus; and

[0045]FIG. 28 is a plane view illustrating a tablet feed sectionprovided with a particular dispensing apparatus according to an anotherembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0046]FIG. 1 shows a tablet packing apparatus in accordance with theinvention. The apparatus generally comprises storage shelves 1 providedon one end side of the apparatus, a tablet feeding section 2 provided inthe upper part of the apparatus, tablet vessel feeding sections 3provided under the tablet feeding section 2, a tablet packing section 4provided between the storage shelves 1 and the tablet vessel feedingsections 3, and a controlling section 5 (see FIG. 17).

[0047] The storage shelves 1 have a generally semi-cylindrical shape andincludes a plurality of container chambers 6. As shown in FIG. 2A, eachcontainer chamber 6 has a rectangular frame body in which at least thesurfaces opposed in the direction shown by an arrow in FIG. 2A haveopenings. The openings are closed with doors 6 a biased by means ofunshown springs or so. The doors 6 a can be opened toward the frontsurface side, preventing one's hand from being inserted into a packedvessel conveyor 13 that will be explained hereinafter. The doors 6 a canbe pivoted within a range that does not interfere with a tablet vessel11 held by a vessel holder 8 that will be explained hereinafter. Adisplay 7 is provided on the upper part of the front side of thecontainer chamber 6. In the embodiment, the feeder vessel number and thetablet count number are displayed on the display 7. The containerchamber 6 is also provided with a vessel holder 8. In the vessel holder8, a pair of holding plates 9 are opposed to each other in a horizontaldirection. The holding plates 9 are biased by a spring 9 a in thedirection in which the holding plates 9 come close to each other. At thelower ends of the holding plates 9 are formed holding lugs 10 whichextend in the direction in which the holding plates 9 are opposed. Asshown in FIG. 2B, on opposed edges of the holding lugs 10 are formedrecesses 10 a which have a generally elliptic shape so as to hold atablet vessel 11. At the back side corners of the holding lugs 10 areformed cutouts 10 b which are spread out toward the inside. The cutouts10 b are provided to facilitate the insertion of the tablet vessel 11into the recesses 10 a. A vessel sensor 8 a is capable of detectingwhether the tablet vessel 11 is held by the vessel holder 8 in thecontainer chamber 6 or not.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, in the center part of the outer circumferenceof the storage shelves 1 is provided a touch panel 12, instead of thecontainer chamber 6. The touch panel 12 is provided to allow instructiondata on the prescription to be inputted directly.

[0049] Inside the storage shelves 1 is provided a conveyor 13 for packedvessel. In the conveyor 13 for packed vessel, as shown in FIG. 3, an armmember 15 is pivotally mounted to a rectangular frame 14 which iscapable of traveling vertically.

[0050] A bearing recess 16 is provided at each of the upper and lowerends of both outside surfaces of the rectangular frame 14. The bearingrecesses 16 are in sliding contact with guide shafts 17 standing at agiven interval behind the storage shelves 1. The conveyor 13 for packedvessel can be moved vertically through the medium of a belt (not shown)by the driving of a motor (not shown). A first driving gear 18 is fixedto the center of the lower horizontal plate 14 a of the rectangularframe 14. Instead of the bearing recess 16, a roller or a bearing thatcomes into slide contact with the guide shaft 17 can be used.

[0051] The arm member 15 comprises an arm body 19 mounted rotatably onthe center shaft of the first driving gear 18. A first driving motor 20is provided on one end portion of the arm body 19. To the rotating shaftof the first driving motor 20 which protrudes from the bottom surface ofthe arm body 19 are fixed position detection plates 21 and a seconddriving gear (not shown) engaged with the first driving gear 18. Arotational position of the second driving gear can be determined by thedetection of the position detection plates 21 by a sensor (not shown).With this arrangement, the arm member 15 is rotated in forward orreverse direction in the range of 180° by the drive of the first drivingmotor 20. On the top surface of the arm body 19 is provided a slidingmember 22 which is driven by a built-in, second driving motor (notshown) and thereby reciprocates in the longitudinal direction. On oneend portion of the sliding member 22 (on the side opposite to the firstdriving motor 20) is provided a gripping member 23. The gripping member23 comprises a pair of gripping pieces 25 which are driven through agear not shown by a third driving motor 24 provided on the slidingmember 22 and thereby open and close.

[0052] The third driving motor 24 is driven and stopped based on anelectric current value that fluctuates due to a difference of loadapplied on the gripping pieces 25. Concretely, when the load of thethird driving motor 24 increases at the time of griping and releasingthe tablet vessel 11 and then the electric current value exceeds athreshold value (obtained by adding a margin electric current to anelectric current value at the normal operation), the third driving motor24 is stopped. The increase of the load at the time of releasing thetablet vessel 11 is caused by allowing the gripping pieces 25 to comeinto contact with a stopper (not shown) at a predetermined openposition. The gripping pieces 25 are urged toward the open position byan unshown spring or so in order to absorb the backlash of the gear.

[0053] The tablet feeding section 2 comprises a tablet container section26 and a tablet conveyor section 27.

[0054] In the tablet container section 26, as partly shown in FIG. 4,grooves 29 extending vertically are provided on both sides of a verticalwall 28. Each groove 29 is covered with a shelf member 30 providedpivotably about a pivot 30 a so that common guide paths 31 are formed. Aplurality of openings 30 b for discharging tablets are provided in avertical line on each shelf member 30. A plurality of motor bases 32corresponding to the openings 30 b for discharging tablets are mountedto the outer surface of each shelf member 30.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A, each motor base 32 has a built-indriving motor 32 a. A driving gear 33 to which the power from thedriving motor 32 a is transferred is exposed on the top surface of themotor base 32. A fall guide path 34 is formed on one end side of themotor base 32. A tablet detecting sensor 35 is provided on the innerwall of the fall guide path 34, so that the tablets discharged throughthe fall guide path 34 can be detected (counted).

[0056] A feeder vessel 36 is detachably mounted to the motor base 32.The feeder vessel 36 is generally in the shape of a rectangle whichopens upward and which can be covered with a cover 37. In the feedervessel 36 is stored tablets. At the bottom of the feeder vessel 36 isprovided a rotor 39 having a gear 38 at the lower end thereof.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the rotor 39 has conical surfaces onits upper and lower parts. The attachment of the feeder vessel 36 to themotor base 32 engages the gear 38 with the gear 33 on the motor base 32.On the lower conical surface of the rotor 39 are formed tablet guidinggrooves 40 extending spirally toward the center of the surface, and areformed dividing grooves 41 dividing each tablet guiding groove 40 intotwo parts in the middle thereof. The spiral direction of the tabletguiding grooves 40 toward the center of rotation of the rotor 39 isopposite to the direction of rotation of the rotor 39 (opposite to thedirection shown in the arrow in FIG. 7B). In the dividing grooves 41 isprovided a dividing fin 42. With the rotation of the rotor 39 as shownin FIG. 6B, the dividing fin 42 divides the line of tablets that passthrough the tablet guiding grooves 40.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 5B, a gear stopper 43 is capable of engagingwith the gear 38 in the feeder vessel 36 when the feeder vessel 36 isdetached from the motor base 32 and disengaged to the gear 38 when thefeeder vessel 36 is mounted. The gear stopper 43 is biased against thegear 38 by a stopper spring 44. Even though the feeder vessel 36 isdetached from the motor base 32, the above arrangement allows the gearstopper 43 to engage with the gear 38 and prevents the rotor 39 fromrotating, so that tablets cannot fall out of the feeder vessel 36.

[0059] In the tablet feeding section 2, when the driving motor 32 a inthe motor base 32 is driven with the feeder vessel 36 attached to themotor base 32, the rotor 39 is rotated through the medium of the gear 33and of the driving gear 38, thereby tablets move in a line toward thecenter of rotation, forming a line for each tablet guiding groove 40. Asmentioned above, the tablet guiding grooves 40 are formed so as toextend spirally toward the center of rotation of the rotor 39 in thedirection opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotor 39. Tabletsare therefore forced to move toward the center of rotation regardless ofthe centrifugal forces exerted on the tablets by the rotation of therotor 39. The line of tablets is divided by the dividing fin 42 beforeeach tablet guiding grooves 40 communicates with the fall guide path 34,and then fall one by one into the common guide path 31 through the fallguide path 34.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, at the lower ends of the common guide paths31 are provided a shutter 43 for temporarily retaining the tablets whichhave fallen from the fall guide path 34. The shutter 43 comprises asingle plate which can horizontally slide across the common guide paths31. At the both end portions of the shutter 43, openings 43 a, 43 b areformed. When the shutter 43 slides toward the left side, the rightcommon guide path 31 is opened by the right opening 43 a. When theshutter 43 slides toward the right side, the left common guide path 31is opened by the left opening 43 b. When the shutter stops at the middlepoint of the slide stroke, the both of the common guide paths 31 areclosd.

[0061] Beneath the shutter 43, a hopper 44 is slidably and detachablydisposed. Along with the slide operation of the shutter 43, the hopper44 can slide to a position where the hopper 44 can receive the tablets.Thus, the tablets received through the common guide paths 31 can be fedto respective conveyor vessels 46 in the tablet conveyor section 27disposed beneath the hopper 44.

[0062] The tablet conveyor section 27, as shown in FIG. 11, comprisestwo lines of conveyor belts 48 and conveyor vessels 46. The conveyorbelts 48 are looped between a pair of pulleys 47. The conveyor vessels46 are supported on the conveyor belts 48 by a support frame 46 a so asto be reciprocated. Rectangular apertures 46 c are provided in a line ona bottom plate 46 b of the support frame 46 a (see FIGS. 11 and 15). Theconveyor belt 48 has continual guide projections 48 a, which engage withthe rectangular apertures 46 c to allow the conveyor vessel 46 to bemoved. The bottom of the conveyor vessel 46 comprises a shutter 49 whichcan be opened and closed. The shutter 49 is biased, as shown in FIG. 15,by a spring 50 provided at one end of the shutter 49 so as to shut thebottom of the conveyor vessel 46. A protrusion 49 a is formed at one endon the downside surface of the shutter 49.

[0063] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each tablet vessel feeding section 3comprises a stock container 51 for storing empty tablet vessels 11, avessel takeout section 52 for taking out tablet vessels 11 one by onefrom the stock container 51, and an empty vessel conveyor 53 forconveying the tablet vessel 11 taken out from the stock container 51 bythe vessel takeout section 52. The tablet vessel feeding sections 3 aredisposed in a line as shown in FIG. 1. The sizes (outside diameters orlengths) of empty tablet vessels 11 stored in the stock containers 51are different for each stock container 51.

[0064] The bottom wall 54 of the stock container 51 is inclineddownwardly toward the vessel takeout section 52 and is provided with arotation plate 55 in the vicinity of the vessel takeout section 52. Therotation plate 55 slightly protrudes from the bottom wall 54. Therotation plate 55 is periodically rotated both forward and backward by amotor 56 so that the inclined direction of the tablet vessels 11 withrespect to the vessel takeout section 52 can be changed. On the uppersurface of the rotation plate 55, a semi-spherical shape of protrusion55 a is formed. The protrusion 55 a allows the tablet vessel 11 tochange its position lateral and assists in taking out of the tabletvessel 11 by the vessel takeout section 52. Transmission types of photosensors 54 a are provided above the inclined bottom wall 54. Indicationlamps (not shown) provided on the stock container 51 indicate theremaining quantity of the tablet vessels 11 based on the detected signalof the photo sensors 54 a. Namely, “F” lamp is ON when light between thephoto sensors 54 a is intercepted, while “L” lamp is ON when lightbetween the photo sensors 54 a is not intercepted. Moreover, “E” lamp isON when a sensor provided on a conveyor 61 or a delivery table 62 whichwill be described hereinafter does not detect the tablet vessel 11 for apredetermined time. Alternatively, the remaining quantity of the tabletvessels 11 may be indicated on the touch panel 12 as shown in FIG. 12.

[0065] The vessel takeout section 52, as shown in FIG. 10, comprisesrollers 57 juxtaposed vertically and a belt 58 running between therollers 57. On the belt 58, lateral vessel holding portions 59 areprovided at a predetermined distance along the running direction.Between the lateral vessel holding portions 59, two vertical vesseleliminating portions 60 are provided. Each lateral vessel holdingportion 59 comprises a plurality of holding fingers 59 a protruding witha predetermined distance. Each vertical vessel eliminating portion 60comprises a plurality of projections 60 a protruding with apredetermined distance. The distance between the lateral vessel holdingportions 59 is smaller than the height of the tablet vessel 11 andlarger than the outside diameter of the tablet vessel 11. The distancebetween the holding fingers 59 a is larger than the outside diameter ofthe tablet vessel 11. Thus, the lateral vessel holding portions 59 cansurely hold the tablet vessel 11 laterally without engaging the openedge of the tablet vessel 11 with the holding fingers 59 a.

[0066] The vessel takeout section 52 further comprises a conveyor 61 anda delivery table 62 for conveying the tablet vessels 11 taken out by thevessel takeout section 52 to the empty vessel conveyor 53. The conveyor61 comprises a pair of rollers 68 and four conveyor ropes 69 runningbetween the rollers 68. The roller 68 is driven to rotate both forwardand backward by a motor not shown. The distance between the conveyorropes 69 is smaller than the outside diameter of the tablet vessel 11.The delivery table 62 has a substantially L shaped section and ispivotable between positions as shown in solid line and two dots chainline respectively in FIG. 9 to deliver the tablet vessels 11 conveyed bythe conveyor 61 to the empty vessel conveyor 53. The vessel takeoutsection 52 is operated when no tablet vessel 11 is detected on theconveyor 61 or delivery table 62 by a sensor not shown for apredetermined time. The empty vessel conveyor 53 is operated in areverse conveying direction for a predetermined time at the time ofpower ON initially and after emergency stop. If the empty tablet vessel11 is present on the way of the empty vessel conveyor 53, the emptytablet vessel 11 is recovered into a recovery box not shown disposed onone end of the empty vessel conveyor 53, namely on the end opposite tothe tablet packing section 4.

[0067] The empty vessel conveyor 53 is provided below the delivery table62 along the stock containers 51 arranged in line. In the same manner asthe conveyor 66, the empty vessel conveyor 53 comprises a pair ofpulleys 71 and a pair of conveyor ropes 72 looped between the pair ofpulleys 71.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 11, the tablet packing section 4 comprises afork-like vessel holder section 76 and a tablet weighing section 77.

[0069] The vessel holder section 76 has a plurality of support pieces 78between which the tablet vessel 11 can be supported. The distancebetween the support pieces 78 corresponds to the size of the tabletvessels 11. In the present embodiment, the vessel holder section 76 canhold S, M and L sizes of the tablet vessels 11. The vessel holdersection 76 can reciprocate between a vessel receiving position and atablet receiving position by means of drive unit not shown.

[0070] In the vicinity of the vessel receiving position, first, secondand third guide plates 79, 80 and 81 are disposed. The first guide plate79 has a substantially V-shape so that the tablet vessel 11 conveyed bythe empty vessel conveyor 53 can be delivered to the second guide plate80. The second guide plate 80 is inclined so that the tablet vessel canroll on the second guide plate 80 toward the vessel holder section 76.The third guide plate 81 can pivot above the second guide plate 80 forallowing or disallowing the tablet vessel 11 to be passed to the vesselholder section 76. The third guide plate 81 may be provided with adelivery guide plate which allows the tablet vessel 11 to surely roll.

[0071] Under the vessel holder section 76, a vessel aligning plate 82 isdisposed. The vessel aligning plate 82 allows the tablet vessels 11 heldby the support pieces 78 to align when the vessel holder section 76 ishorizontally moved. Thus, it is possible to reduce push quantity by pushrollers 92 which will be described hereinafter, resulting in effectiveoperation.

[0072] In the vicinity of the tablet receiving position, there areprovided a labeler 83 and a lifter 84.

[0073] The labeler 83 is arranged to print a medicine name or so onlabels 85 and fix the labels 85 to the tablet vessels 11. The labels 85are in advance stuck to a sheet 87 wound on one roller 86 a and releasedfrom the sheet 87 when the sheet 87 is turned at a guide tip 88. Thesheet 87 with the labels 85 released is rewound on the other roller 86b. Printing to the labels 85 is carried out before releasing the labels85 from the sheet 87 in such a manner that printing information is heattransferred through a ribbon 90 by means of printing head 89 as thesheet 87 is supported with a backing roller 86 c. The ribbon 90 is fedfrom one roller 91 a and rewound on the other roller 91 b.

[0074] Under the vessel holder section 76, a pair of push rollers 92 anda guide roller 93 are disposed. A size detecting sensor (not shown) fordetecting the size of the tablet vessels 11 is provided between the pushrollers 92. The push rollers 92 are arranged to push the tablet vessel11 aligned by the vessel aligning plate 82 in a protruding direction ofthe support pieces 78, whereby holding the tablet vessel 11 togetherwith the guide roller 93 positioned on the other side. Beneath thetablet vessel 11 held by the push rollers 92 and the guide roller 93, arotation bearing table 110 is disposed. The rotation bearing table 110can be raised up to a height corresponding to the size of the tabletvessel 11 detected by the size detecting sensor. The guide roller 93 isurged toward the push roller 92 and rotates the tablet vessel 11 due todrive of a motor 93 a.

[0075] The lifter 84 can lift up the tablet vessel 11 up to a rotationposition where a flange portion of the tablet vessel 11 is positionedslightly above the support pieces 78 and a tablet receiving positionwhere the tablet vessel 11 receive the tablets from a packing hopper 97which will be described hereinafter.

[0076] The tablet weighing section 77 comprises an input hopper 94, aweighing section 95, a measuring hopper 96, a packing hopper 97, and adischarging hopper 98.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 15, the approach of the conveyor vessel 46 tothe input hopper 94 brings the protrusion 49 a of the shutter 49 intocontact with an edge of the input hopper 94, causing the shutter 49 toopen against the bias exerted by the spring 50. This operation allowsthe tablets accommodated in the conveyor vessel 46 to fall into theinput hopper 94.

[0078] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, the weighing section 95 comprises aweighing vessel 99 for accommodating tablets which have fallen from theinput hopper 94, a weighing device 100 for weighing the weighing vessel99 along with the accommodated tablets, and a pair of arms 101 forsupporting the weighing vessel 99. Two projections 99 a, 99 b, as shownin FIG. 16A, are formed on each outside surface on both sides of theweighing vessel 99. At the distal end of each arm 101 is formed anengaging recess 101 a which engages with the projection 99 a at one end.The engaging recess 101 a is so shaped that the projections 99 a on theweighing vessel 99 are prevented from falling out when tablets in theweighing vessel 99 are fed into the packing hopper 97 with the pivotalmotion of the arms 101. When tablets are fed from the input hopper 94into the weighing vessel 99, the arms 101 suspend the weighing vessel 99above the weighing device 100 so that the impulsive force caused by thefeeding cannot act directly on the weighing device 100. After thefeeding, the arms 101 pivot to load the weighing vessel 99 on theweighing device 100. With this arrangement, the measuring time by theweighing device 100 is shortened.

[0079] The bottom surface of the measuring hopper 96 comprises a shutter96 a as shown in FIG. 11. Packing amount detecting sensors 102 areprovided on the side surfaces facing each other of the measuring hopper96, so that the amount of the tablets stocked in the measuring hopper 96can be determined.

[0080] The upper openings of the packing hopper 97 and of thedischarging hopper 98 are closed and opened by a closing/opening door103 provided pivotably. The lower end of the packing hopper 97, as shownin FIG. 14, extends so as to gradually reducing its diameter andconnects to a lower cylindrical portion 110 to form a step like shape.In the lower cylindrical portion 110, an internal cylinder 111 isdisposed so as to move vertically. A hood 112 is fixed on the upper endof the internal cylinder 111 so that the food 112 can open and close theinternal opening 110 a of the lower cylindrical portion 110. Thus, whenthe tablet vessel 11 is raised by the lifter 84 to push up the internalcylinder 111, tablets sustained by the hood 112 are discharged into thetablet vessel 11.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 17, the controlling section 5 receives an inputof prescription data from a host computer 105 (or only an input signalfrom the touch panel 12). The controlling section 5 also receives asignal from or actuates and controls the storage shelves 1 (e.g., thevessel sensors 8 a, the touch panel 12, motors 14 a, the first drivingmotor 20, and the third driving motor 24), the tablet feeding section 2(e.g., the driving motors 32 a, and the tablet detecting sensors 35),the tablet vessel feeding sections 3, and the tablet packing section 4(e.g., the weighing device 100, the packing amount detecting sensors102) and an emergency stop switch 106 and so on.

[0082] The operation of the tablet packing apparatus as arranged abovewill be described below.

[0083] As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 18, first, prescriptionspecifying data based on prescription data is received from the hostcomputer 105 (step S1). A empty tablet vessel feeding process (step S2)and a tablet feeding process (step S3) are then performed simultaneouslyin parallel on the basis of the prescription specifying data.Subsequently, a tablet packing process (step S4) is performed, and avessel delivering process (step S5) is then performed for delivering thetablet vessel 11 to the container chamber 6 in the storage shelves 1.The prescription specifying data may be received in multiple accordingto the processing capacity.

[0084] In the empty vessel feeding process, as shown in the flow chartsof FIG. 19, in accordance with the above prescription data, the vesseltakeout section 52 in the stock container 51 in which the tablet vessels11 corresponding to the prescription data are contained is operated(step S11). In the vessel takeout section 52, the tablet vessels 11 areconveyed upward in laterally held condition by the lateral vesselholding portions 59. At this time, the vertical vessel eliminatingportions 60 prevent the tablet vessels 11 from being held by the lateralvessel holding portions 59 in a vertical condition or in a laterallyoverlaid condition. Feeding of the next tablet vessel 11 is carried outby operating the vessel takeout section 52 in the stock container 51when use of the tablet vessel 11 held on the vessel holder section 76 isdecided, i.e., when the next prescription data is inputted.

[0085] When the tablet vessel 11 is conveyed upward by the vesseltakeout section 52, operation of the conveyor 61 is commenced to movethe tablet vessel 11 to the delivery table 62 (step S12). Then,activation of the solenoid not shown causes the delivery table 62 topivot, whereby the tablet vessel 11 is delivered to the empty vesselconveyor 53 (step S13).

[0086] In the empty vessel conveyor 53, after the tablet vessel 11 isdelivered from the stock container 51, the motor not shown is driven toconvey the tablet vessel 11 to the tablet packing section 4 by theconveyor ropes 72 (step S14).

[0087] In the tablet packing section 4, the tablet vessel 11 isdelivered to the second guide plate 80 through the first guide plate 79and then guided by the third guide plate 81 (step S15). The vesselholder section 76 is horizontally moved to position the pair of thesupport pieces 78 corresponding to the size of the tablet vessel 11 tobe conveyed at the lower end edge portion of the second guide plate 80(step S16). Then, the third guide plate 82 is pivoted so that the tabletvessel 11 is supported by the support pieces 78 of the vessel holdersection 76 (step S17). As a result, the flange portion of the tabletvessel 11 is supported, whereby the tablet vessel 11 necessarily becomesto be an upwardly opened condition.

[0088] The support positions of the tablet vessels 11 on the supportpieces 78 are different in accordance with the sizes and the deliverydirections of the tablet vessels 11. Therefore, the vessel holdersection 76 is horizontally moved, whereby the tablet vessels 11 arealigned by the vessel aligning plate 82 (step S18). If the tablet vessel11 reaches the tablet receiving position (step S19), then the movementof the vessel holder section 76 is stopped (step S20). Consequently, thelifter 84 is driven to slightly lift the tablet vessel 11 from thevessel holder section 76 (step S21). In this condition, the push rollers92 are moved forward (step S22), thereby the tablet vessel 11 is held bythe push rollers 92 and the guide roller 93. Then, the motor 93 a isdriven to rotate the guide roller 93 so that the label 85 on which apredetermined information is printed is fixed on the outer surface ofthe tablet vessel 11 (step S23).

[0089] In the tablet feeding process, as shown in the flow chart ofFIGS. 20 and 21, a relevant tablet container section 26 is actuated andcontrolled on the basis of the prescription specifying data. That is,the built-in motor in the relevant motor base 32 is driven to rotate therotor 39 to discharge a given number of the tablets stored in the feedervessel 36 (step S41). The number of the discharged tablets is counted bythe tablet detecting sensor 35 provided in the fall guide path 34 (stepS42). After the given number of tablets are discharged from the feedervessel 36 through the fall guide path 34 into a common guide path 31(step S43), the rotation of the rotor 39 is halted to suspend thedischarge of tablets (step S44).

[0090] The tablet conveyor section 27 is then actuated and controlled;that is, the pulleys 47 are driven and rotated so that the conveyorvessel 46 is moved by the conveyor belt 48 and positioned under thecommon guide path 31 (step S45). The hopper 44 is then rotated to directthe opening thereof to the conveyor vessel 46 (step S46), and theshutter 49 is opened to allow the tablets to be stored into the conveyorvessel 46 (step S47).

[0091] After the given number of the relevant tablets are stored in theconveyor vessel 46, the conveyor vessel 46 is moved to the input hopper94 by the actuation and control of the tablet conveyor section 27 (stepS48). At this time, the protrusion 49 a of the shutter 49 comes intocontact with an edge of the input hopper 94, and the movement of theconveyor vessel 46 thereby causes the shutter 49 to open gradually, sothat the stored tablets are inputted into the weighing vessel 99 throughthe input hopper 94. The weighing vessel 99 is then suspended slightlyabove the weighing device 100 by the pivotal motion of the arms 101, sothat the impulsive force caused by the input of the tablets cannot actdirectly on the weighing device 100. Subsequently, the weighing vessel99 is loaded on the weighing device 100 by the pivotal motion of thearms 101 and the weight of the weighing vessel 99 is measured (stepS49).

[0092] It is then judged whether the weight is as large as a givenweight or not (step S50). The tablets are then fed into the measuringhopper 96 by the pivotal motion of the arms 101 (step S51). Whether theamount of the tablets is within the capacity of the tablet vessel 11 ornot is then judged on the basis of detection signals from the packingamount detecting sensors 102 in the measuring hopper 96 (step S52).

[0093] In the case that the weight is as large as the given value andthat the amount of the fed tablets is not more than the given amount, itis judged that the relevant tablets could be packed by the given amount.Then, the tablet vessel 11 is further lifted by the lifter 84 so thatthe internal cylinder 111 of the packing hopper 97 is raised (step S53).As a result, the internal opening 110 a is opened by the hood 112,whereby the tablets are packed in the tablet vessel.

[0094] In the case that the weight is larger or smaller than the givenvalue or that the amount of the fed tablets is larger than the givenamount, it is judged that the tablets are irrelevant or that the amountof the tablets exceeds the capacity of the tablet vessel 11. The openingof the packing hopper 97 is then closed (step S54), and the shutter 96 ais opened (step S55). The tablets are thus discharged through thedischarging hopper 98. In this case, returning to step S41, the tabletfeeding process is performed afresh.

[0095] After the tablets are packed into the tablet vessel 11, theprocess for delivering the vessel to the storage shelves 1 is performed.At this time, a using condition of the container chamber 6 is confirmedby referring to a storage shelves data table and a vacant containerchambers 6 are specified. The storage shelves data table is establishedbased on detected signal of the vessel sensor 8 a provided in eachcontainer chamber 6 of the storage shelves 1. Among the vacant containerchambers 6, the order of the container chambers 6 in which the tabletvessel 11 is to be delivered is decided. In the present embodiment, theorder of positions of the container chambers 6 that an operator caneasily take out the tablet vessel 11 is decided.

[0096] After the container chamber 6 to which the tablet vessel 11 is tobe delivered is decided, as shown in FIG. 22, the arm member 15 iscaused to pivot (step S61), the sliding member 22 is moved forwardrelative to the arm body 19 (step S62), and the tablet vessel 11 isgripped by the gripping pieces 25 (step S63). The sliding member 22 isthen retracted (step S64), and the arm member 15 is caused to pivot andelevated (step S65). The position where the arm member 15 is to reachwith the pivotal motion and elevation is such a position as determinedas described above, i.e., the container chamber 6 from which theoperator can easily take out the tablet vessel 11.

[0097] Once the arm member 15 reaches the determined position to reachwith the pivotal motion and elevation (step S66), a using condition ofthe container chamber 6 is confirmed again based on the detected signalof the vessel sensor 8 a provided in the corresponding container chamber6. If the tablet vessel 11 is not contained, the sliding member 22 ismoved forward to open the door 6 a and deliver the gripped tablet vessel11 to the container chamber 6 in the storage shelves 1 (step S67). Thetablet vessel 11 then travels to the recesses 10 a while pushing asidethe holding plates 9 in the container chamber 6 through the medium ofthe cutouts 10 b formed in the holding lugs 10, and is held with thebias exerted by the spring 9 a. The gripping pieces 25 are then released(step S68); the sliding member 22 is retracted (step S69); and the armmember 15 is subsequently lowered (step S70) for the delivery of thenext tablet vessel 11. Just before the tablet vessel 11 is contained inthe container chamber 6, if a tablet vessel 11 is detected in thecontainer chamber 6, another container chamber 6 in which the tabletvessel 11 can be contained is retrieved and then the tablet vessel 11 iscontained in the retrieved container chamber 6.

[0098] In the selection of the aimed container chamber 6, the containerchambers 6 may be numbered so that the number increases with increase inthe period of time required for the delivery of a tablet vessel 11 tothe container chamber 6 by the arm member 15, and the vacant containerchamber 6 which has the smallest number may be selected as the aimedchamber.

[0099] Once the tablet vessel 11 packed with the given amount of thespecified tablets is thus delivered to the container chamber 6 in thestorage shelves 1, the numbers assigned to the feeder vessels and thecounts of the tablets are displayed on the display 7 of the relevantcontainer chamber 6 in response to a detection signal from the vesselsensor 8 a (step S71).

[0100] In the aforementioned tablet packing apparatus, when an emergencystop button which is provided in both the lower middle portion of thestorage shelves 1 and the middle potion of the tablet vessel feedingsections 3 is pressed down, or power supply is cut off due to powerfailure or the like during the operation, the apparatus is shut down. Inthis case, the power supply to the motor base 32 which operates thetablet container section 26 is stopped, preventing miss-feeding of thetablets. Whereas, the power supply to the controlling section 5 is notstopped and it is communicated to the controlling section 3 that it isan emergency stop condition. At the normal stop of the power supply,without simultaneously stopping the power supply to both the motor base32 and the controlling section 5, the power supply to the motor base 32is stopped first and then the power supply to the controlling section 5is stopped. The controlling section 5 is possible to receive powersupply from a secondary power source not shown, the operating conditionis maintained. However, there may arise a case that an information onthe tablet vessel 11 and the tablet which had been under conveyance cannot be perfectly controlled. Thus, it is required to execute a restoringprocess in which the tablet vessel 11 and the tablet which had beenunder conveyance is recovered to reset the information.

[0101] In the restoring process which will be explained in detailhereinafter, the tablet vessel 11 and the tablet which had been underconveyance is recovered into the container chambers 6 of the storageshelves 1. Therefore, in the case that there is no room or few room forthe container chambers 6, the tablet vessels 11 should be removed fromthe container chambers 6 so that the restoring process can be executed.Moreover, in the conveyance path of the tablet vessels 11 (the emptyvessel conveyor 53, the vessel holder section 76 and so on), the emptyvessel conveyor 53 is reversed for a predetermined time to remove thetablet vessel 11 on the empty vessel conveyor 53. In the vessel holdersection 76, the size data of the tablet vessel 11 is memorized again bymeans of the size detecting sensor for detecting the size of the tabletvessel 11 provided between the push rollers 92.

[0102] It is preferable to make an indication on the touch panel 12 thatthe tablet is removed. Since an error that either the feeder vessels 36or the stock vessel 51 is empty does not shows abnormality, therestoring process is not executed in such case.

[0103] The restoring process will be explained in accordance with theflow chart as shown in FIG. 23.

[0104] The controlling section 5 is once powered off (step S81). This isbecause of the deletion of the processing data temporally stored in thememory of the controlling section 5. When an area displayed on the touchpanel 12 by “CLOSE” as shown in FIG. 25A is touched, the indications of“DO YOU WANT TO POWER OFF?”, “YES” and “NO” are displayed as shown inFIG. 26A. If the “YES” is selected, the indication that “IT'S SAFETYEVEN IF POWER IS POWERED OFF” is displayed as shown in FIG. 26B to poweroff.

[0105] If the emergency stop button is pressed down (step S82), then theemergency stop button is reset (step S83) and the controlling section 5is powered on again (step S84). Thus, the menu is displayed on the touchpanel 12 as shown in FIG. 25A.

[0106] Among the items as shown in FIG. 25A, if the “RECALL” is touched(step S85), then the recovering process of the tablet which had beenunder conveyance is commenced (step S86). At this time, the indicationthat “RECALL UNDER PROCESS . . . ” is displayed on the touch panel 12 asshown in FIG. 25B to indicate that restoring process is going on (stepS87).

[0107] In the tablet recovering process, the tablets remaining in theconveyor vessels 46 and the hoppers 44 are recovered as shown in flowchart of FIG. 24. At first, the vessel holder section 76 is moved toposition the tablet vessel 11 having the largest capacity at the packingposition, i.e., beneath the packing hopper 97 (step S91). Normally,since the tablet vessel 11 having the largest capacity is ready on thevessel holder section 76, such tablet vessel 11 is used. If such tabletvessel is not ready, it is replenished from the stock vessel 51. On theother hand, the tablets are recovered from any one of the common guidepaths by means of the conveyor vessel 46 (step S92). Then, the tabletsare packed into the largest tablet vessel 11 through the input hopper 94and the packing hopper and so on (step S93). Consequently, the tabletvessel 11 packed with the tablets is transferred to the containerchamber 6 of the storage shelves 1 by the arm member 15. At the sametime, a tablet vessel 11 having the same size as the tablet vesseltransferred to the storage shelves 1 is replenished to the vessel holdersection 76 (step S95). In addition, the indication of “P000” isdisplayed on the display 7 (step S96) to enable an operator todistinguish at a glance that the recovered tablets are packed in thetablet vessel 11 transferred to the container chamber 6.

[0108] In the same manner as explained above, a tablet vessel 11 havingthe largest capacity is replenished to the vessel holder section 76 fromthe stock vessel 51 to recover the tablets remaining in the anothercommon guide paths 31. Although there may be no tablet in the commonguide paths 31, the recovery process of tablets should be executed fromall of the common guide paths 31 in order to perfectly grasp whichtablets had been under conveyance.

[0109] If the tablets remaining in all common paths 31 (step S97) isrecovered, then other size of the tablet vessels 11 held on the vesselholder section 76 are recovered to the storage shelves 1 (step S98). Inthis case, the tablet vessels 11 having the same size as that of thetablet vessels 11 which are recovered and transferred to the containerchamber 6 of the storage shelves 1 are replenished to the vessel holdersection 76 from the corresponding stock vessel 51 (step S99).

[0110] If the recovery of the tablet vessels is finished (step S100),then main menu is displayed on the touch panel 12. The touch with “AUTO”enables the restoration to the normal operation, i.e., the tablet vesselfeeding process (step S2), the tablet feeding process (step S3) and thetablet packing process (step S4) in the same manner as described before.

[0111] In the above explained restoring process, in the case that thetablet packing apparatus is stopped due to the abnormality, thecontrolling section 5 is always powered off to clear the processing datastored in the memory. However, it may be also possible to have theoperator select whether such processing data is utilized or not. Forexample, when the indication of “RECALL” displayed on the touch panel12, the processing data which are stored before the apparatus is stoppedmay be utilized to continue the process. In this case, the tabletvessels 11 remaining in the empty vessel conveyor 53, the vessel holdersection 76 and so on, or the tablets remaining in the common guide paths31 and the like are not necessary to be recovered.

[0112] Moreover, in the above explained restoring process, theindication of “P000” indicating recovery is displayed on the display 7of the container chamber 6. Instead of this, it is also possible toindicate which feeder vessel 36 the tablets were discharged from. Inthis case, it is necessary to memorize the common guide path from whichthe tablets were recovered based on the position of the conveyor vessel46. Thus, according to both the memorized common guide path and theprocessing data, it is possible to specify the feeder vessel 36 fromwhich the tablets were discharged.

[0113] The tablets to be contained in the tablet feeding section 2include specially administrative tablets (for example, pyrine medicinesand histamine tablets which cause allergy). Therefore, if a packingoperation is carried out through a common passage, there would be risksthat the specially administrative tablets are mixed into the othertablets due to the troubles and so on of the apparatus. Therefore, it ispreferable to provide a particular dispensing apparatus in the tabletfeeding section 2 containing the specially administrative tablets.

[0114] The particular dispensing apparatus comprises a tablet reservingmember 200 for temporarily reserving the tablets fed from the motor base32. An LED 201 is provided on the front surface of the motor base 32.The LED 201 is ON when the tablets are reserved in the tablet reservingmember 200 from the motor base 32. The lower opening of the tabletreserving member 200 can be closed by a shutter 203 which is rotatablysupported around a support shaft 203 a on a support member 202. Theshutter 203 is formed with an arc-like cutout 204 on its front edge andalso provided with a detection piece 205 on its side edge. The cutout204 is arranged to engage the flange of the tablet vessel with theinternal edge of the cutout 204 in order to position the tablet vessel11 so as to push the shutter 203. The detection piece 205 is detected bya sensor 206 provided on the support member 202 when the lower openingof the tablet reserving member 200 is closed by the shutter 203. Theshutter 203 is urged by urging means such as spring or so not shown sothat the lower opening of the tablet reserving member 200 can be closed.

[0115] In the tablet feeding section 2 with the particular dispensingapparatus having above construction, when the motor base 32 is drivenand the specially administrative tablets are reserved in the tabletreserving member 200, the LED 201 is ON. Thus, an operator can recognizeat a glance from which tablet feeding section 2 are discharged thespecially administrative tablets to be packaged. Then, the operator setthe tablet vessel 11 on the particular dispensing apparatus of thetablet feeding section 2 in which the LED 201 is ON. Consequently, withthe tablet vessel 11 engaged with the cutout 204, the operator push theshutter 203. As a result, the shutter 203 is pivoted around the supportshaft 203 a against the urged force of the urging means. Thus, the upperopening of the tablet vessel 11 can communicate with the lower openingof the tablet reserving member 200, whereby the specially administrativetablets in the tablet reserving member 200 are packed in the tabletvessel 11. At this time, as the sensor 206 does not detect the detectionpiece 205 of the shutter 203, the LED 201 is OFF.

[0116] Instead of the tablet reserving member 200, a tablet reservingmember having such a construction as shown in FIG. 28 with a shutter 300and sensors 301 a, 301 b can be adopted.

[0117] The shutter 300 has a fan-shape. On the front edge thereof theshutter 300 is formed with a guide portion 302 comprising an arc-likecutout, while on the rear edge thereof the shutter 300 is formed with aprotrusion 303 which is detected by sensors 301 a, 301 b. The shutter300 is urged in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 28 around a supportshaft 301 a by a spring 304 provided around the support shaft 301 a.Therefore, it no load is applied, the shutter 300 closes the loweropening 305 of the tablet reserving member. The guide portion 302 isdirected toward the front side, allowing the upper opening of the tabletvessel 11 to position easily in place. The protrusion 303 is detected bythe sensor 301 a, i.e., the closes condition of the shutter 300 isdetected by the sensor 301 a, whereby the tablets can be fed from themotor base 32. However, after the tablets are discharged in the tabletreserving member, the tablets can not be fed from the motor base 32unless the opened condition of the shutter 300 is detected. Thus, thefeed of the tablets are controlled based on the signals from the sensors301 a, 301 b and the motor base 32, whereby the feed of the tablets canbe constantly properly conducted.

[0118] In the aforementioned embodiment, to the tablet feeding section 2with the specially administrative tablets contained, the tabletreserving member 200 of the particular dispensing apparatus is directlyfixed. However, the tablet reserving member 200 may be connected to thetablet feeding section 2 via a tube or so. Thus, it is possible that thetablet reserving member 200 have a mounting and dismounting constructionand is disposed at a proper position to dispense the speciallyadministrative tablets.

[0119] Although the present invention has been fully described by way ofthe examples with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to benoted that here that various changes and modifications will be apparentto those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless such changes andmodifications otherwise depart from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention, they should be construed as being included therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tablet packing apparatus in which tablets fedfrom a plurality of feeder vessels in a tablet feed section through acommon passage are contained into a tablet vessel fed from a tabletvessel feed section, the apparatus comprising: a tablet reserving memberdisposed below the feeder vessel which stores specially administrativetablets, the tablet reserving member having a lower opening, the tabletreserving member receiving the specially administrative tablets fed fromthe feeder vessel; and a shutter which is movable to open and close thelower opening of the tablet reserving member, whereby when setting thetablet vessel beneath the tablet reserving member and moving the shutterto open the lower opening of the tablet reserving member, the speciallyadministrative tablets are fed into the tablet vessel without passingthrough the common passage.
 2. The tablet packing apparatus as in claim1, wherein the tablet reserving member is separated from the feedervessel and connected to the feeder vessel by means of a tube.
 3. Thetablet packing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the tablet reservingmember includes a biasing member for biasing the shutter so as to closethe lower opening of the tablet reserving member and the shutter isformed with a cutout portion with which the tablet vessel engages,whereby when engaging the tablet vessel with the cutout portion to pushthe shutter, the shutter open the lower opening of the tablet reservingmember.
 4. The tablet packing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein thetablet reserving member includes a indicator for indicating that thespecially administrative tablets are fed into the tablet reservingmember.
 5. The tablet packing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein thetablet reserving member includes a sensor for detecting opening orclosing of the lower opening of the tablet reserving member by theshutter, whereby the specially administrative tablets can be fed fromthe tablet vessel only when the sensor detects closing of the loweropening of the tablet reserving member.